Starfire

Here is my thread about the Clansman install, if you want to keep that info in one place: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?43999-Clansman-Installation-in-a-Saracen-APC&highlight=clansman+saracen Cheers, Terry

Certainly a big improvement and a nice vehicle. I do have some questions and comments: 1) I would suggest reverting back to reverse flow cooling also. On the conventionally cooled Saracens, the majority of the engine heat is expelled through the armoured "trunks" that go under the side windows and these are not present on the RC models. I don't believe that the beehives are big enough or situated correctly to cool the engine alone; many people who have messed around with the cooling system on the Mk 3 and 6 have had similar problems to yours. 2) Whether you do restore your cooling system or not, you can probably improve reliability by fitting an electronic ignition kit and a LOW PRESSURE electric fuel pump. The pump especially helps with vapour lock. High pressure (fuel injection) pumps should never be fitted with carbies and can cause all sorts of problems, especially fires. 3) Your seat pads are incorrectly installed. The front edges of them should wrap around the seat lids with the corners held in the leather pockets. 4) Why have you removed half of the spall linings? 5) Why have you mounted a Bren gun? The Mk 5 and 6 never carried them. 6) Can you post up some details of your GPMG? 7) Can you post up details of your radio install, with lots of pictures please? I'm part way through a Clansman install myself and it would be great to see how you did yours. Cheers, Terry

He seems to think that it was a slow leak, that he was a little too slow in pumping out. From reading the other thread, it appears that the plan is to build a flotation screen out of plastic sheeting and then pump it out, which should work if the sheeting is installed adequately and the pump of suitable capacity. I wish him luck with the recovery and would think that a green goddess or two would be perfect, if he could source them. Cheers, Terry

The owner has been very careful not to respond to queries about it's insurance status and doesn't seem too keen to pay for any equipment hire. I wish him luck in the recovery, but something doesn't quite add up. Cheers, Terry

That's all detailed in post 16, above. The cable is Cable, Electrical, Sub-Miniature 7-2-12c (6145-99-110-8634). Cheers, Terry

I guess that it's a case of "it ain't broke..." Cheers, Terry

Put another B81 in. Rightly or wrongly, there is nothing like a Rolls-Royce B series. Cheers, Terry

The box is an AFV document holder. They seem to be used in everything British from the 50s until well into the 80s or later. Certainly standard in the Saracen and the Ferret. The Saracen one is mounted on the inside of the rear door. I don't know why they're felt padded, but just about all of the storage boxes in the Saracen are. Cheers, Terry

When you activate the indicators, do they light up at all, partially flash or not light? The old style flashers make use of a bimetallic strip and are quite sensitive to the resistance of the globes fitted, which may prevent them from operating correctly if you have incorrect wattages or blown globes. Cheers, Terry

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/army-innovations/

I'd love to get one, but unless I have a lotto win or something, I probably won't be in a position to take yours in that kind of timeframe. The Saracen keeps me poor enough as it is Cheers, Terry

I would suggest that you seriously consider the 432 or something wheeled like the Saracen. Good steel vehicles which can be had for a reasonable price and have good parts availability. I'd personally like to get a 434. In "American" it's about the coolest "pickup truck" you can get Cheers, Terry

Sorry to hear that you missed out, Fatboy. I guess you'll just have to get a Pig now Cheers, Terry

Unless they're in storage, it doesn't appear to have any tow hooks. I'll see what I can so about the rest. Cheers, Terry

Mine is an ex-Hong Kong Mk 5 (82 BA 88). The museum has an Australian Army Mk 2 (115 379). Cheers, Terry

That is so awesome. Any idea if the people that made the replica will be making any more? Cheers, Terry

My Saracen is fitted with a Jolley kit and probably the best praise that I can level at it is that I have never given it any thought - it just works, unlike 2 sets of Lucas points, which just don't Cheers, Terry

I honestly don't know much about it, as I don't work in the workshop at the museum and my main interest is Cold War equipment. I largely joined the Military Vehicle Preservation Society of South Australia to assist in getting my Saracen registered under our historic registration scheme. The fact that they ran the museum was somewhat incidental, however, I've somewhat fallen in love with the museum and have since become their webmaster and spend a fair amount of time there each week (mostly working on my Saracen, which is in storage there at the moment). I've only posted this up as the museum president pointed out what it was to me and I had seen some of the amazing WW1 build up threads on here. I figured some of you guys may be interested. Prior to that, I'd paid about as much attention to it as some of the other bare chassis (such as CMPs) floating around in the storage areas at the museum (i.e. very little). Where will I find the chassis number or markers? I'll try and open up the cage and get some better photos on Sunday, if I can make it down to the museum (I may have to work this weekend instead). Cheers, Terry

Hi All, Here are some (bad) pictures of the FWD truck that our museum will be restoring in the future, provided that we can sort out our current problems with funding for the museum site, that is. I know that it's a 1917 FWD truck, that it was fitted with a factory pneumatic tyre kit at some stage and then was imported from the UK to Australia for use on a farm in northern South Australia. I also know that we don't have an engine or a set of solid wheels for it. There are a number of other parts for it in storage, including the radiator, gearbox and transfer case. Other than that, I don't know very much about it, but I will hassle the workshop guys when I see them next to try and get some more info and maybe open up the cage for some better photos. If anyone has any relevant information about these vehicles or can spot anything unusual about ours, please let me know. Cheers, Terry

Good point about the green. It's definitely a post war box, as it has an FV number but as far as I know, all British armoured vehicles had either a silver (early) or white (later) interior, so maybe it was fitted to a soft skin or painted by a previous owner? Cheers, Terry

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEDFORD-OB-BUS-1-OF-A-KIND-MOTORHOME-CONVERSION-MODERN-RUNNING-GEAR-AMAZING-/281394280017 If you plan on doing modifications that tidy, I don't think you'd upset anyone. That Bedford is beautiful and tasteful. Cheers, Terry

While I could be wrong (the Saracen was in service for about 40 years after all) the stowage diagrams that I have indicate that Bren magazines were stored in the racks behind the rearmost seats and under one of the seats. I don't believe that they ever had a dedicated box for them. Cheers, Terry

My first MV was the Saracen; it was a little daunting at first, but a bit of reading and some help from the forum and I'm managing ok. The Pig shouldn't be much more challenging than the GS Humber in reality and is a very striking vehicle. The GS, of course, is rarer and a very good looking vehicle. Either way, Clive can answer any questions you might have Cheers, Terry

Another fascinating thread, Clive. Well done. Cheers, Terry

From what I understand, rust can be a major problem, as can rear axle breakage. Other than that, they are fairly overcomplicated 50's military vehicles and are pretty much just a bigger version of the Champ, with all of its complexities and shortcomings, but aren't anything that can't be fixed with a lot of elbow grease and a new set of rubber seals. The chassis and driveline is pretty much the same as the Humber Pig and as they make use of the B60 engine, parts aren't too hard to find there. Body wise, they are unique and you'll have to do a lot of metal surgery to fix it up, but many fittings and accessories are common to all 50s era military vehicles. Cheers, Terry